Daily Devotions
March 17th, 2016 by Pastor SolleyMatt 21:10-13 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
KJV
Immediately after being welcomed into the city of Jerusalem Jesus went to the temple and for the second time drove those who were selling sacrifices well above the market value out. Jews from all over the known world at that time would come to Jerusalem, some traveling many miles, and they would not be able to bring sacrifices with them. So there was a market where they could purchase a lamb and other animals to sacrifice. Because of the law of demand the merchants would sell them well above market value, making them in Jesus eyes thieves, thus the cleansing of the temple. There are many calling for a purge of the church today, a cleansing if you would. While there is much that is wrong with the church today, Jesus did not destroy the temple. I as well believe the church is in need of a cleansing, of a purging if you would, but there is still much that is good about the church. The temple would remain a house of prayer for another 60 years, would remain a place where people could come to worship for another 60 years before it was destroyed. The early church often met in the temple for prayer and worship. Yes, there is much that is wrong with the church today, but it is still a place where we can meet to worship, pray, and learn of God. This I have noticed about those who leave the church for the new “House church” movement, they never seem to get anywhere. They never support missions, never are found going out two by two to tell others about Jesus, never have a pastor to preach the Word of God, they never seem tog et anywhere. There is much wrong with the church, but much that is good about it as well.